Both Argentina and Uruguay threatened to boycott the tournament, with Argentina citing the America’s political situation as their reason to withdraw its national team from the Centenario. The first game takes place in Santa Clara, with the hosts US taking on Colombia. It’s the biggest stage we can have other than a World Cup.
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For the first time in Copa history, the tournament will be staged outside of South America, with the USA hosting the 45th edition of the showpiece event, 100 years after its inception.
Midfielder Andres Guardado, who made his debut at the World Cup a decade ago at 19, is playing the best soccer of his career.
Although the U.S.is not expected to win, expectations are high and the pressure is on Klinsmann, whose team flopped with a fourth-place finish in the Gold Cup last summer, a loss to Mexico in a Confederations Cup playoff, and mixed results in recent World Cup qualifiers.
Messi himself hit back angrily at those who questioned his commitment in the wake of last year’s Copa America final defeat to Chile.
It has been boosted to a 16-team format for the first time with the inclusion of six teams from CONCACAF, which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean. “It was a big tournament”.
Games will be held in 10 different cities from June 3 to June 26.
Some of the world’s best players will be on show around the USA, but all eyes will be on Levi Stadium on Friday night for the opening game of the month long festival of soccer. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford – where the final will be played – could witness one of his greatest moments.
The Performance of the U.S. will lot depend on upon the veterans midfielder like Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman.
Key Stat: Colombia are undefeated in the last three matches between the two sides (W2 D1), conceding just one goal in that time. An emergency board meeting had reportedly been called to discuss the possibility of pulling out of the Copa America. Now that the corrupt officials are out, the tournament is going on as planned. But when is the game and how can you watch?
Add to that the fact another one of Messi’s clubmen, Suarez, is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of Uruguay’s Copa campaign. Finishing as runner-up probably means a match-up vs. tournament-favorite Brazil at MetLife Stadium on June 17.
Argentina will play Chile in their opening match on Tuesday 7 June.
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“Obviously when you face a team with that talent that they have up from – with James [Rodriguez], with [Carlos] Bacca, with [Juan] Cuadrado, [Edwin] Cardona – they’re all players, they’re all difference makers”, Klinsmann said, with Paraguay and Costa Rica making up the group.
